Rotary valve



May 19, 1931- E. w. GRIFFITH 1,806,016

ROTARY VALVE Filed June 9, 1930 2 sheetsheet 1 lll ha f.

' w 2o w52) in ff Q (fi-EMA @Si ze JNVENTOR BY f ATTORNEY.

May 19', 1931. E. w. GRIFFITH 1,805,016

ROTARY VALVE Filed June 9, 1930 2 sheets-sheet '2 fav-L W, @rif/7774INVENTOR.

BY if, /f/

A T1' ORNE Y.

Patented May 19, 1931 vlirica EARL WILLIAM GRFET-L' 0F AL-ART, TEXASApplication filed eTune 9,

The present invention contemplates the provision of a new and improvedrotary valve for internal combustion engines, and wherein a. singlerotating sleeve is continuously rotated during the operation of theengine, and from the shaft thereof.

In carrying out the invention, the head of the engine is provided withspaced inner and outer tubular casings, between which rotates the valvesleeve, the latter having a plurality of openings a 1ranged in staggeredrelation, and adapted to register with inlet and outlet ports of thecasing at predetermined intervals, to properly control the inlet andexhaust te the cylinders of the engine.

ln accordance with the present invention, the inner casing is divided bya longitudinal partition into inlet and exhaust 'passages which arecoeiitensive in length with the' casing and closed yat one and oppositeends, with said passages communicating with the adjacent inlet andexhaust ports of the head, and controlled by the rotary sleeve.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of a valveof the above mentioned character, wherein the rotatable sleeve can beeasilyA and quickly inserted bet veen and removed from the spaced innerand outer casings of the head without disturbing the latter, anddesigned to provide unobstructed communication with the intake manifoldof the engine when in position for use.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understoodwhen the following detail description is read in connection with theaccoinnanying erawings, 'they l invention residing in the construction,combination and arrangement of `carts as a o .L claimed.

ln the drawings forming iaart of this an- V a Lp L alication likenumerals of reference indicate l similar parts in the several views andwherein:

Figure 1 is a fraoinentar side elevation c 1 D 1 1 of an engine, partlyin section snowing tne valve forming the subject matter of the in-Avention.

1930. Serial No. f lGGO.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the valve.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3,#3 of Figure 1.

Figure d is a view in elevation of 'the rotary valve sleeve.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing the position of the rotary valvesleeve on the compression stroke of the engine.

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the position of the rotary sleeve onthe liiing stroke.

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the positie-nef the sleeve on theexhaust stro re.

Referring to the drawings in detail 10 in dicates an explosive engine ofwell known construction wherein the cylinders are iiidicated at 11 andeach equipped with a piston 12. rllhe head of the engine is providedwith spaced inner and outer tubular casings 13 and 14e respectively, andeach casing is provided with spaced parallel rows of inlet and exhaustports for the cylinders of the engine. The inlet ports of the respectivecasings are aligned and indicated at 15, while the exhaust ports of therespective casings are aligned and indicated at 16. lt is of coursemanifest that the number of ports can be varied depending upon thenumber of cylinders included in the engine construction. f

As clearly illustrated. in Figure 2 the inner casing 13 is divided by alongitudinally disposed partition 17 into an inlet chamber 18 and anexhaust chamber 19, and these chambers are arranged coextensive inlength with said casings. `The partition is formed with an end wall 2Owhich closes one end of the exhaust chamber 19, while the opposite endof the inlet chamber is in open coinmunication with the intake manifoldv21 of the engine. While one end of the intake manifold 21 communicateswith the adjacent end of the inlet chamber 18, the opposite end of themanifold communicates with a passage 22 which passes through thestationary inner and outer casings 13 and 111 respectively.

A valve sleeve 23 is located between the inner and outer casings 13 and14C respectively, and is continuously rotated during the operation ofthe engine. The valve sleeve 23 is closed at one end as at 24, andprojecting from this end is a short snaft 25 which carries a small gear26. lVhile the valve sleeve may be rotated in any suitable manner, thegear 26 preferably meshes with a gear 27 carried by the engine shaft, sothat the valve is continuously rotated during the operation of theengine. rllhe valve sleeve 23 is provided adjacent one end withacircumferential series of spaced openings 28 which communicate with theadjacent end of the intalre manifold 21 tnrough the passage 22 abovereferred to. Consequently the charge of fuel can be readily admitted tothe inlet chamber 18 while the valve sleeve is rotated. rlhe shaft 25carried by one end of the valve sleeve is journaled in a suitable cap orbeen g 29 which close, the adjacent ends of the spaced inner and outercasings 13 and la respectively, and this cap 29 is bolted or otherwisesuitably secured as at 30 to the engine head. By reason of thisconstructiom it is obvious that the cap can be easily removed to permitthe valve sleeve 23 to be either inserted within the space between theinner and outer casings 13 and 1alrespectively, or removed therefrom asthe occasion may require without disturbing the head of the engine.

'.lhe valve sleeve is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 31which are arranged in staggered relation throughout the length of thesleeve, and which openir are arranged to be brought into registrationwith the aligned inlet and exhaust ports of the spaced casings atpredetermined intervals, and thereby properly control the inlet andexhaust to the cylinders of the engine.

In practice, the charge of fuel from the intake manifold 21 enters theinlet chamber 18 from the opposite ends tnereof, and as clearlyillustrated in Figure 3, when the piston 12 of a cylinder is about` tostart downwardly on ils intake stroke, an opening 31 of the rotary valvesleeve is in communication with the inlet openings of the inner andouter casings for the particular cylinder. Consequently the fuel passesthrough these openings from the inlet chamber 18 to the cylinder. Asillustrated in Figure 6, as the piston starts upwardly within 'thecylinder on its compression stroke, the valve sleeve 23 vhichcontinuously rotates during the operation of the engine has been movedto cover both the inlet and exhaust ports of the spaced inner and outercasings, and the position of the opening 31 of the sleeve occupies theposition shown in Figure 6. When the piston starts downwardly on its rtiring stroke, the inlet and exhaust ports of the opening 31 has beenbrought into registry with the exhaust ports 16, so that the exhaustgases are admitted to the exhaust chamber 19 of the inner casing, fromwhere they pass through an exhaust manifold not shown. ltlhen the valvesleeve 23 is in a position to establish communication between avariicular cylinder and the exhaust chamber 19, the inlet ports for theparticular cylinder are closed b y the valve sleeve as illustrated inFigure 8.

lVhile it is believed that from the foregodescription, the nature andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire lo haveit understood, that I do not limit myself to what isherein shown anddescribed and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fallwithin the scope of what is claimed.

lVliat is claimed is:

A -rotary valve for explosive engines comprising spaced inner and outerstationary casings carried by the head of the enoine, a longitudinalpartition dividing the inner casing into inlet and exhaust chambersextending throughout the length of the casing, an end wall carried bythe partition for cloising the adjacent end of the exhaust chainber,said casings having aligned inlet and exhaust ports communicating withtheir respective chambers, a rotary valve sleeve insertable through anopening in one end Of the head into the space between said inner andouter casings, a removable cap carried by said end of the head andclosing the adjacent ends of said casings, said valve sleeve beingclosed at one end and having a circumferential series of spaced openingsadjacent said end, said inlet chamber communicating at both ends withthe inlet manifold of the engine, and through the spaced openings of thesleeve at one end thereof, and a shaft projecting from the closed end ofthe sleeve and journaled in said cap, whereby said sleeve can berotated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EARL WILLIAM GRIFFITH.

